Update On Atlantic Tuna Bigeye Stock

GENERAL - Base-case studies suggest that Atlantic Bigeye tuna stocks have rebuilt to a healthy condition, reports the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF).

In its latest update on the status of world fisheries for tuna report focusing on Atlantic Ocean tuna stocks, the Foundation recommend that catches be limited to 85,000 tonnes, or less, in order to allow the stock biomass to continue to increase and thus provide a buffer to guard against the stock rapidly returning to an overfished state.

In 2009, about 395,000 tonnes of tuna were caught from the region, a seven per cent increase from 2008.

The bigeye stock is not in an overfished state and overfishing is not occurring, but the model used to assess the stock was modified, so the stock still merits close monitoring.

ICCAT will meet in mid November of this year to review the SCRS findings and consider implementing new, or adjusting current, conservation management measures.

The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) will meet in mid November to review the Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS) finding and consider implementing new, or adjusting current, conservation management measures.